Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, 2005
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary elections were held in the internationally unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
on 19 June 2005. The election saw the two pro-government parties, the Democratic Party of Artsakh
and Free Motherland
, win a large majority of seats. The opposition criticised the conduct of the election but international election monitors generally praised the election.
in 1991. A conflict
took place between 1988 and 1994 which resulted in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenia
n support, becoming de facto
independent from Azerbaijan. However it has not been internationally recognised and Azerbaijan still claims the area as part of its state. The President of Nagorno-Karabakh
in 2005, Arkadi Ghukasyan, was elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2002 and had 2 years remaining on his presidential term.
2005 would be the fourth parliamentary election in Nagorno-Karabakh and was the first under a new electoral law which, among other things, introduced transparent ballot boxes. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation
had been in co-operation with the government until the party's only member of the government, Armen Sargsian, was sacked as Education minister
in December 2004. The party then went into opposition. The opposition was expected to do well in the upcoming parliamentary elections after the leader of the opposition Movement 88
party, Eduard Aghabekian, was elected mayor of Stepanakert
in August 2004 defeating a government backed candidate.
, stood in the parliamentary elections. They were competing for 33 seats in the National Assembly, with two-thirds of the seats elected directly and a further third elected on a proportional basis
. There was a requirement for turnout to exceed 25% in order for the election to be valid and the elected members would serve a five year term.
The election was not recognised internationally and so the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) did not send any election monitors
. However about a hundred non-governmental
observers did come to monitor the election, along with a group of deputies from the Russia
n State Duma
. The election was regarded as illegitimate by Azerbaijan and their ally Turkey
. Azerbaijan said that the election was illegal until Azerbijanis were allowed to return and that it would undermine their OSCE talks with Armenia over the area. President Ghukasyan, though, said that the election would boost the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and promised that the election would be honest and transparent.
The opposition competed in the election as a coalition
between the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the oldest nationalist
party in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the new Movement 88 party. The opposition criticised the democratic record of the government and accused them of using their authority to intimidate and bribe voters, a charge which the government denied. Although the opposition was expected to do well, anaylsts said that disunity and the voters tiredness of continuous criticism could mean they would not do as well as expected.
As well as the existing government party of the president, the Democratic Party of Artsakh
, a new pro-government party contested the election, Free Motherland
. Free Motherland had a mainly economic focus and said that the opposition just criticised without offering solutions. Free Motherland was expected to mainly side with the government and having a second pro-government party was seen as benefiting the authorities.
The opposition accused the government of having a system of buying votes and using threats of dismissal from work unless people voted the right way. One opposition member said with irony that the election had taken place with "fair and transparent irregularities". The opposition threatened to boycott parliament but did not call for any street protests.
Both government and opposition in Armenia praised the election and said it would strengthen the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. The international election monitors praised the election, describing it as generally free and fair and meeting international democratic standards. One western election monitor said that many recognised states
could use Nagorno-Karabakh as an example.
, although it was denied that this had anything to do with the election. The first session of the new parliament took place on 30 June with the posts of speaker
and deputy speaker being shared between the two pro-government parties.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
on 19 June 2005. The election saw the two pro-government parties, the Democratic Party of Artsakh
Democratic Party of Artsakh
The Democratic Party of Artsakh is the ruling political party in Nagorno-Karabakh .The Democratic Party received 12 out of 33 seats in the 19 June 2005 elections....
and Free Motherland
Free Motherland
The Free Motherland is a political party in Nagorno-Karabakh .Free Motherland received 10 out of 33 seats in the 19 June 2005 elections....
, win a large majority of seats. The opposition criticised the conduct of the election but international election monitors generally praised the election.
Background
Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence from AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in 1991. A conflict
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
took place between 1988 and 1994 which resulted in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n support, becoming de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
independent from Azerbaijan. However it has not been internationally recognised and Azerbaijan still claims the area as part of its state. The President of Nagorno-Karabakh
President of Nagorno-Karabakh
-Chairmen of Parliament :-Presidents :-Latest election:-See also:*Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
in 2005, Arkadi Ghukasyan, was elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2002 and had 2 years remaining on his presidential term.
2005 would be the fourth parliamentary election in Nagorno-Karabakh and was the first under a new electoral law which, among other things, introduced transparent ballot boxes. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
had been in co-operation with the government until the party's only member of the government, Armen Sargsian, was sacked as Education minister
Education minister
An education minister is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters.-Country-related articles and lists:Minister of Education may refer to:...
in December 2004. The party then went into opposition. The opposition was expected to do well in the upcoming parliamentary elections after the leader of the opposition Movement 88
Movement 88
The Movement 88 is a political party in Nagorno-Karabakh .The party was part of an electoral alliance of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Movement 88, that won at the 19 June 2005 elections 3 out of 33 seats....
party, Eduard Aghabekian, was elected mayor of Stepanakert
Stepanakert
Stepanakert is the largest city and capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto independent republic, though is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan...
in August 2004 defeating a government backed candidate.
Campaign
185 candidates from 7 parties, together with some independentsIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, stood in the parliamentary elections. They were competing for 33 seats in the National Assembly, with two-thirds of the seats elected directly and a further third elected on a proportional basis
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. There was a requirement for turnout to exceed 25% in order for the election to be valid and the elected members would serve a five year term.
The election was not recognised internationally and so the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
(OSCE) did not send any election monitors
Election monitoring
Election monitoring is the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or a non-governmental organization , primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and international standards. There are national...
. However about a hundred non-governmental
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
observers did come to monitor the election, along with a group of deputies from the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
. The election was regarded as illegitimate by Azerbaijan and their ally Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Azerbaijan said that the election was illegal until Azerbijanis were allowed to return and that it would undermine their OSCE talks with Armenia over the area. President Ghukasyan, though, said that the election would boost the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh and promised that the election would be honest and transparent.
The opposition competed in the election as a coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
between the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the oldest nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
party in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the new Movement 88 party. The opposition criticised the democratic record of the government and accused them of using their authority to intimidate and bribe voters, a charge which the government denied. Although the opposition was expected to do well, anaylsts said that disunity and the voters tiredness of continuous criticism could mean they would not do as well as expected.
As well as the existing government party of the president, the Democratic Party of Artsakh
Democratic Party of Artsakh
The Democratic Party of Artsakh is the ruling political party in Nagorno-Karabakh .The Democratic Party received 12 out of 33 seats in the 19 June 2005 elections....
, a new pro-government party contested the election, Free Motherland
Free Motherland
The Free Motherland is a political party in Nagorno-Karabakh .Free Motherland received 10 out of 33 seats in the 19 June 2005 elections....
. Free Motherland had a mainly economic focus and said that the opposition just criticised without offering solutions. Free Motherland was expected to mainly side with the government and having a second pro-government party was seen as benefiting the authorities.
Results
The results saw a huge majority for the pro-government parties with the Democratic Party winning 12 seats and Free Motherland 10 seats. Most of the 8 independents were expected to back the government, while the opposition only won 3 seats down from the 9 seats the Armenian Revolutionary Federation had won at the last election.The opposition accused the government of having a system of buying votes and using threats of dismissal from work unless people voted the right way. One opposition member said with irony that the election had taken place with "fair and transparent irregularities". The opposition threatened to boycott parliament but did not call for any street protests.
Both government and opposition in Armenia praised the election and said it would strengthen the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. The international election monitors praised the election, describing it as generally free and fair and meeting international democratic standards. One western election monitor said that many recognised states
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
could use Nagorno-Karabakh as an example.
Aftermath
The days after the election were overshadowed by the beating of an opposition candidate, Pavel Manukian, by members of the armyNagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the unrecognized but de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
, although it was denied that this had anything to do with the election. The first session of the new parliament took place on 30 June with the posts of speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
and deputy speaker being shared between the two pro-government parties.